Ever since the dawn of the DAW [digital audio workstation] and digital recording, people far too often have equated recording music mainly with the tracks getting captured and, later, the assembling of a mix. But this is only one aspect of making a recording. Most of what I find myself doing in the studio is completely removed from the actual technical recording process.

Steve Albini & Lil BUB

These actions can include the initial conversations with the artists (as noted in the End Rant this issue), changing out guitars and/or amps, modifying amplifier settings, discussing exact parts played, changing drum patterns, removing sections of a song, looking for keyboard patches, swapping stompboxes, trying out different drums and cymbals, changing instrument strings, removing amp hum, mapping out song structures, deciding on BPMs, moving players around in a room, and much more.

Sure, we should hit record eventually, but remember that in many cases most of what makes a record awesome happens BEFORE the tracks get captured. Making music is so much more than simply looking at a computer screen.

— Larry Crane, editor & Founder

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Automatic Computer (CSIRAC) was one of the world's first digital computers. (photo: Museums Victoria)

— LARRY CRANE,EDITOR & FOUNDER

Larry Crane's signature

Read the End Rant: First Impressions

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